The second joint collaboration between the four NHS procurement hubs has come to fruition with the 1st January go-live of the NHS Total Orthopaedic Solutions framework, available across the NHS. The next project being developed by the hubs - working together as NHS Collaborative Procurement Partnership - is a Total Cardiology Solutions framework agreement expected to go-live in April.

Steve Ellesmere, who has been the LPP Project manager for the DAP since its inception, is now working directly with the DH to support the development of future operating models. Steve Dunkerley, another senior LPP project manager, is managing the final category projects through to completion.

As part of the sharing best practice element of the Procurement and Efficiency Programme, the DH has published toolkits to help manage temporary staffing spend - these are available on the CPE portal (if you are logged in to CPE you can link to them here). The toolkits include: Guidance to help Providers review their current position; Option Appraisal tools; Policies & Procedures. If having reviewed the toolkits you would like some guidance to help identify your priority areas for action, please contact preeya.bailie@lpp.nhs.uk.

Explore my.lpp's new functionality

We are continuing to make improvements to the functionality of the my.lpp portal - When you log in, you can now view your Trust's uptake of live LPP framework agreements. We hope this will also enable you to identify initiatives which you have not yet considered, and communicate any future requirements to LPP for our annual workplanning round.

We're asking everyone who has used our services in any way over the past year to take part in our annual survey. If you haven't received your invitation by email, please let laura.quirke@lpp.nhs.uk know and she will send you a link. The survey results are used as part of our internal planning processes, as well as to update the steering board on how well LPP is meeting your needs.

Lord Carter to attend LPP conference 2nd March

Tracey Wain, UCLH, takes on Estates Lead role

We're delighted to report that Tracey Wain, Deputy Director, Capital Investment and Facilities at UCLH, has agreed to provide the NHS functional and strategic leadership for our Estates, Facilities and Professional Services work.

eProcurement: LPP's Nicola Atack in NHE interview

NHE’s David Stevenson looks at the issue of compliance with the government’s eProcurement Strategy and what support is being provided by the DH. You can view the article here. (If you need to register for access, registration is free.) We are asking trusts about their requirements as they work to meet the DH eProcurement requirements in our newly launched survey - please do complete the survey (see left) to ensure you have your say.

'Queen of the fuel cards' to retire

Debra Day leaves us on 31st January 2015 for a well earned retirement and with her go our wishes for a long and happy future as a lady of leisure. Debra has worked for the NHS since leaving University in a variety of procurement roles. More about Debra, 'queen of the fuel cards', on the LPP website.